This Bed Brings 18th-Century Glamour to Hotel de la Marine

FDT Bureau

For Paris Design Week, the French design studio Uchronia transformed the forecourt of the Hotel de la Marine with a striking installation that pays tribute to the hotel’s 18th-century decor. This installation, named Day Bed, is strategically placed just off the Place de la Concorde and features a grand four-poster bed adorned with intricate tiling, curtains and an upholstered headboard. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

The Day Bed serves as homage to the Indenants’ Apartments, which were once the residence of the intendant of the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, the institution responsible for managing the French royal household’s furnishings, and later known as the Mobilier National. Each apartment in the historical complex showcased opulent beds with elaborate details and rich drapery, creating a mesmerizing ambiance. Visitors can access the bed via two large steps. The installation is enveloped in vibrant ceramic tiles from Dutch company Palet, featuring striking gradients and colours such as red, orange, pink and blue. These hues reflect those found in the historical apartments, including blue from Madame Thierry de Ville d’Avray’s bedroom, red from the Salon Diplomatique and yellow from Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville-d’Avray’s study. According to the studio, the use of ceramic tiles was chosen to give a contemporary twist to the traditional bed design.

The four-poster structure is draped with curtains from French textile brand Casamance, which feature a wavy pattern that adds a dynamic element to the design. The bed sheets and headboard are made from fabric with a blue wave motif on a white background, also from the outdoor collection. Above the bed, a fan from Parisian manufacturer Duvelleroy adds a touch of whimsy, as if inviting someone to rest and cool themselves. Golden curtain holders and blue cloud-shaped cushions further enhance the bed’s elegance. Surrounding the bed are six cuboid-shaped benches, painted by American company Tonester to match the tiles’ colours. The project was a collaboration with French bed brand Treca, which crafted the bed and headboard, while Studio Gaia constructed the installation’s framework.

The realization of this project at the Hotel de la Marine was reportedly a long-held dream for Uchronia, inspired by a previous visit to the Indenants’ apartments. The Day Bed will reportedly be on view until September 22 as part of Paris Design Week, held annually alongside the Maison&Objet trade fair.

Image credit: Uchronia